Arcane Academy: The Divine Extraction Legacy Chapter 1193: The Culprit and the Disciple Candidates

Naturally, Vale possessed the power to use Holy Smite to obliterate these Spirits instantly, yet doing so risked inflicting minor trauma upon the students’ souls.

Although such injuries were negligible and easily mended, he opted for the most secure path forward.

Raising his hand, the Avatar invoked his Celestial Art... "Radiant Wave."

A luminous ring expanded from his palm, sweeping through the entire eastern wing.

This technique was absolute yet gentle, unlike spells designed for pure destruction. Glowing filaments of energy entwined around every possessed pupil, softly enveloping their forms to draw the spirit away from the host.

The Evil Spirits let out piercing shrieks as the tranquil holy power tightened its grip, dragging them out of the vessels they occupied. One by one, they were pulled into the light, their dark shapes thrashing against the shimmering net Vale had woven.

The effectiveness of the technique was staggering!

"Leave them," the Avatar ordered, his voice echoing with a calm yet undeniable authority.

The shimmering barrier pulsed, emitting ripples of purifying light. The lesser spirits evaporated immediately, their wails dissolving into nothingness.

Just like that, the students slumped over, liberated but drained... Fortunately, their souls remained unharmed. Despite the immense pressure, their spiritual foundations were perfectly intact.

Nearby Professors watched in awe, gasping at the display. "That spell... it belongs to Vale? He is purging the corruption without damaging the hosts!"

Maintaining the Spell, the Avatar’s gaze sharpened.

It was consuming a significant amount of his Divinity Points, but he deemed the cost necessary.

"This is the safest route. No soul shall be damaged while I am here."

However, several spirits proved more resilient. They fought back, clawing into their hosts and forcing them to strike out even as the radiant veil attempted to extract them.

These were clearly evolved Evil Spirits; he realized another intervention was required to ensure the students remained safe.

The Avatar’s eyes ignited with the power of Shadow Divinity.

"Then I shall suppress you."

Ebon chains surged from the earth, pinning the spirits where they stood. The students fell, finally free but completely devoid of energy.

Yet, more spirits continued to swarm. Spreading his arms wide, the Avatar called upon his summons.

"Moonlight Specters... arise."

Ethereal figures of pale radiance materialized, their bodies resembling a silver mist. They dove into the fray, engaging the Evil Spirits in combat.

The students watched in wonder as the Specters defended them, their ghostly blades slicing through the shadows themselves!

It was a gratifying sight to witness the Evil Spirits falling beneath the weapons of the Moonlight Specters.

A professor, bewildered by the sudden reinforcements, cried out, "Who... who is responsible for this?!"

Chad looked toward the eastern wing and broke into a smile.

"There is no need for concern... It is Vale... or at least one of his Avatars. Excellent. This was exactly what I needed."

The Avatar noticed Chad's look and gave a brief nod. "You defend the center. I will purify the outskirts."

"Understood!"

Side by side, they battled the Evil Spirits. Chad unleashed his Draconic Energy, while the Avatar utilized Celestial Arts for cleansing and Dark Arts for shadow binding.

***

Meanwhile, the Second Avatar continued his pursuit of the likely mastermind behind the chaos.

His shadow-composed form tore through the Shadow Domain in a high-speed chase.

The pursuit even crossed into another town, as the antagonist attempted to hide among a large population to use them as human shields.

"Tsk... You won’t escape!" the Avatar roared.

The cloaked figure ahead leaped across rooftops and through narrow alleys, desperate to break free from the Shadow Domain.

However, the tracking mark Vale had etched onto the fugitive’s back shone dimly. No matter the speed he reached or the illusions he deployed, the Avatar’s vision remained fixed on him.

"Run if you must, but your fate is already sealed..." the Avatar whispered, lacing his words with a curse to sap the enemy's vitality. The move was so subtle that the man didn't realize he had been afflicted until the curse took hold of his body.

Suddenly, the fugitive spun around, throwing a wall of runes across the path.

"Pointless..."

The Avatar cut through the barrier with a blade of darkness, effortlessly shattering the man’s defenses.

"Who is your master?" the Avatar questioned as he closed the distance.

The figure remained silent. Instead, he produced a crystal that pulsed with a violent, unstable light. He threw it behind him, and the resulting blast made the ground tremble!

Boom!

Walls crumbled and debris flew in every direction.

Quick to react, the Avatar moved to protect those caught in the blast radius. He used his mastery over Darkness to dampen the explosion's force.

Leaping through the smoke, the Avatar inspected the shimmering shards of the crystal... "Divine Crystals... repurposed as explosives."

'It is fortunate I spotted that in time...'

He also observed that the man had dozens more of these crystals strapped to his person when he had reached for the first one.

This was no mere spy. The fugitive was a Half-Immortal, carrying enough destructive potential to wipe out entire city blocks.

The Avatar’s face turned grim. "So that is how you managed to tear through space and unseal the Spirits."

The fugitive let out a laugh, his voice masked to prevent identification. "Do you truly believe you can stop me? These crystals can slay even an Immortal... One mistake, and I will take half this Domain down with me!"

While the threat was plausible, the presence of the established formation circles and the Avatar himself made such an outcome unlikely.

The Avatar’s shadow aura surged, smothering the shockwaves as another crystal was detonated nearby. He clenched his teeth in frustration.

He could not allow this individual to continue this rampage.

But just as he prepared to execute Shadow Mutilation once he was in range, the fugitive abandoned the fight and accelerated even further.

His only focus now was fleeing!

Moments later, the man’s body began to glow with Divinity, significantly increasing his speed.

Cracks formed in the pavement with every stride as the Avatar pursued him relentlessly.

"You will not escape me," the Avatar growled.

"Perish!"

The fugitive threw another crystal, illuminating the night with a flare of light. The Avatar protected himself with multiple layers of shadow; though the blast drained a massive portion of his Divinity, it failed to destroy him.

"Modified Divine Crystals... whoever provided you with these will pay a heavy price."

***

Shortly before this, amidst the turmoil of the Academy—where cries filled the corridors and students fell victim to Evil Spirits—two figures remained resolute.

Galatea and Irene, both first-year students in the Holy Arts Curriculum, were immune to the possession. While their peers collapsed with eyes turning pitch black, the two stood firm, their auras emitting a faint holy glow.

This was not a matter of chance.

Both girls were equipped with two Sovereign Artifacts, presents from their sisters who were Saintesses.

They wore necklaces capable of sensing spies, murderous intent, curses, illusions, and hidden malice.

On their wrists were armbands that provided a shield against both physical strikes and mystical threats like possession and dark spells.

The Evil Spirits attempted to strike at them, whispering insanity into their minds, but the artifacts pulsed with light, driving back every assault.

They remained completely unharmed.

Galatea tightened her grip. "Irene, we cannot simply watch. Our classmates are in agony."

Irene nodded, her resolve matching Galatea's.

"Then we act. We will hold the line until the Headmaster or reinforcements arrive."

Together, they waded into the chaos.

When a possessed student lunged at them, Galatea lifted her necklace, releasing a burst of holy energy.

The spirit within the host screamed as its form was exposed. Irene followed up with a prayer, her armband glowing to protect them from the student's tainted magic.

"Hold on!" Irene yelled, seizing the student’s hand. The holy aura from her artifact flowed outward, weakening the spirit’s influence.

Galatea placed her hand on the student’s chest, murmuring a sacred hymn. "Be released."

As the younger sisters of the Saintesses of the Untainted Sentinel, their competence was beyond question.

The spirit flinched and was forced to retreat, leaving the student to collapse, gasping for air.

They performed this ritual repeatedly, moving from one peer to the next. Their artifacts provided the power to resist, but the physical and mental toll was mounting.

"Galatea, look out!" Irene screamed.

A pack of possessed students rushed them, casting spells forged from black flames. Galatea’s necklace thrummed, sensing the approaching curse. She raised her hand, and the artifact immediately cast a shield around them both. The fire shattered against the wall of light, dissipating harmlessly.

It was, after all, a Sovereign Grade Artifact.

Irene struck back with a flash of holy light, pushing the spirits away just long enough to regroup.

Still, they were merely first-years. Their mastery over holy arts was limited, and the more powerful spirits resisted their cleansing.

Furthermore, the artifacts consumed their Holy Energy; if they pushed too far without sufficient reserves, the artifacts might begin to drain their own life force instead.

Galatea’s breathing became labored. "We can't maintain this indefinitely..."

Irene could only agree.

At that precise moment, Vale’s Avatar finally reached the eastern wing. His Radiant Wave washed over the hall, tearing the spirits from their hosts.

Shadow chains restrained the more powerful entities, while Moonlight Specters emerged to eliminate the remaining threats.

The students finally collapsed, liberated at last.

Galatea and Irene stood frozen, watching the harmonious display of holy and shadow powers.

"It is him..." Galatea breathed.